Library levy proposed for November ballot

WOOSTER -- The library has proposed an operating levy for the November ballot.

The board of trustees of the Wayne County Public Library passed a resolution "declaring it necessary to renew all of an existing 1.0-mill levy and increase that levy by 0.1 mill."

"The original levy stays as it is," said Fiscal Officer Katherine Long, while the additional 0.1 mill represents "a slight increase."

Long said the exact cost will not be available until the the actual numbers are provided by the Wayne County Auditor's Office.

Now that the first resolution necessary to put an issue on the ballot has been approved by the board of trustees, the library's attorney will prepare the second resolution to be considered at the board's June 19 meeting.

According to information provided by Wayne County Auditor Jarra Underwood, the first resolution is a "request for the county auditor to certify amount or millage needed"; and a second resolution must be approved "to proceed with certificate for the board of election."

The most recent levy was a 1-mill, five-year renewal levy passed in November of 2012, trustees were reminded at their April meeting, which Underwood attended to provide background information and answer questions.

In order to place an issue on the 2017 general election ballot, Underwood said at that time, all paperwork must be completed by 4 p.m. on Aug. 9.

State funding for libraries is dwindling, library Director Jennifer Shatzer and Long had said at the April meeting.

Long noted it has decreased each year, adding, "We have to make it up some other way."

Shatzer highlighted from her May board report a dedication ceremony for a late employee's memorial statue to be held Friday, June 23, 4 p.m.

A statue of a little girl reading a book and a plaque "in fond remembrance" of the late Mary Ann Chupp, a 20-year employee of the library, will be central to a memorial garden designed by architect Elizabeth Flatt.

The Friends of the Library donated the statue, Shatzer said, and the remainder of the funds for the project have either been allocated by the library or are being donated.

Chupp began library employment In 1993 when she joined the circulation department and later became the first volunteer coordinator, developing the program "from scratch," Shatzer had said previously. Chupp also served as a human resources employee at the library.

At the May meeting, branch manager Debbie Starcher gave a presentation to the board about the West Salem branch, where the meeting was held, and the service of its volunteers.

"Programs continue to be popular at the branch," Shatzer quoted Starcher as saying.

Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at lhall@the-daily-record.com. She is @lindahallTDR on Twitter.